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LETTERS ON THE REBELLION, 



BY S. A. GODDARD, 

ii 

BIRMmGHAM, ENGLAND. 



These letters comprise the mily continuous defence of tlie Union cause made iu Buro))e during tlie 
rebellion, and the only elaborate replies that appeared to the speeches of prominent English states- 
men, and the numerous articles in the Times in favour of the reljels, which otherwise would have 
become fixed in t]\e popular mind, as reliable, and have entered unrefuted into history. 

While sympathy with the rebels was nearly universal, and afterwards, until the end of the war, the 
writer was at his post, for periods almost single-handed, fighting the battle out, " on t/iis line," — '' The 
Union is right, and must and shall be preserved." 

The letters are supjtosed to have had an important influence in preventing the acknowledgement of 
the Rebels by the British Government, in evidence of which and of their value, the following 
extracts from the many testimonials that have been received, are submitted. 

From His Excellem _v Ciiahles Frakci.s Ad.ims, then American Minister at the Court of 
St. James : — " You understand the American question, as well us any one in Great Britain, that I 
know of." • "- _. . - - 

(Copy of a letter from Mr. Bright). 

Rochdale, December II th, 1866. 
My dear Mr. Goudard, 

I am glad to hear that you are aliout to publish your letters and articles on the 
Auierican War. They will perhaps be too many for one volume, but you can make a selection from 
them preserving all the most important. 

I told my friends in Birmingham that thej' had a great advantage over other towns, because they 
had you as a teacher on the great American question. I think I read all your letters as they appeared, 
and I believe and say it without flatter}^, that nothing more exact on the gi'eat struggle was written in 
England during the war. The facts were correct, your knowledge complete, and your faith in the final 
i.ssue of the conflict never failed you for an instant. 

I have always felt that our population in the centre of England were much indebted to you for your 
constant teaching during the progress of the rebellion. 

It is pleasant to write thus to you now the war is over. 1 have often felt my faith made stronger 
after reading what you had written, and now we may rejoice together. 

Believe me always .sincerely yours, 

JOHN BRIGHT. 
Samuel A. Goddard, Esq., Birmingham. 

From the Private Secretary of Hek Majesty the Queen : — " Her Majesty has been graciously 
pleased to accept the volume, and has commanded me to thank y<iu for the attention." 

From the Private Secretary of His Excellency Pre.siuent Grant : — " I am requested by the 
President to thank you for the book, and to say that he considers it a valuable acquisition to his 
Library." 

From half a column of favourable criticism iu the London Athewvum, the leading critical Journal 
in Lon'don : — -"The author has done good .service to literature and his professional reputation, in 
gathering from the columns of peri.shable newspapers, the''articles which justify Mr. Bright's strongly 
worded certificate." 



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From the Birmingham Daily Post, the Editor of which was cognisant of all the facts, and is 
perhaps a better judge on the subject than any other person whatever, the following highly important 
evidence of the usefulness of the letters is taken : — " Next to the speeches of Mr. Bright, probably no 
influence was more powerful than the letters and articles of Mr. Goddard, in bringing a large section 
of the working classes and the liberal party to view tlie conflict in its true light, and to successfully 
oppose the threatened interference of the British Government in favour of the Rebels. In Mr. Bright's 
warm euloginm of the book, we can express our sincere concurrence. It is a most masterly, exhaustive, 
and patriotic work, and one that caunot fail greatly to enhance the already high reputation of the 
writer, as an authority on American politics." 

From His Excellency T. L. Motley, American Minister, London : — " Tlie reputation of these con- 
tributions to the history of a momentous epoch, is high, and well known to me, and I thank yo i 
sincerely for your attention in furnishing me with a copy of the work." 

From a clergyman of the Church of England, Devonshire — " I trust that, late in tlie day through 
it be, the merits of the Federal cause, tlu-ougli tliat crusliing array of facts so vigorou.sly and hicidly 
brought to bear in these forcible letters, will come to be universally and heartily recognised. The most 
stubborn prejudices must yield to the fair and dispassionate perusal of the book." 

From the American Consul, Leeds : — " I admire your book very much, and 1 think it worth ten 
times the cost. Every loyal man ought to have a copy." 

From a Merchant at Liverpool : — " I have finished the book, and am delighted with it." 

From the Boston Daily Advertiser : — " During the whole period of the rebellion, in the hour of 
triumph and in the hour of defeat, Mr. Goddard was the most faithful of sentinels. Viewed in the 
light of history, it is marvellous to see how exactly his predictions have been verified, and how 
completely his judgments have been confirmed. Mr. Goddard's letters are a grapliic illustration of 
the way the battle of opinion was fought, step by step, on the otiier side of the Atlantic, and are every 
way entitled to the high opinion Liberal statesmen placed upon them at the time they were written." 

From nearly a column of favourable criticism in the Philadelphia Uhited States Gazette : — " The 
-literature of the war may be vainly searched to parallel the unflagging confidence, the unquestioning 
assurance of the writer, alike in the moment of victory and in the hour of defeat, that the Union was 
right, and that whatever vicissitudes came or might come, it was sure to succeed. The letters jihoto- 
gTaph and embalm the feeling of England as almost no other publication does, as it was seen and 
shared by one whose whole heart was with the flag. Tiie entire volume is a book that is alisolutely 
necessary to fill out the liistory of the war. The argument is always close, the application keen, the 
appeal courteous. As a whole, the letters are in the highest degree creditable to the head and heart of 
the author, and enfold a great amount of matter that is almost as useful at the present time as it was 
for the instant." 

From Governor Chamberlain, of Maine, to the Publishers : — " These letters evince a wonderful 
mastery of the subject, and equal sagacity in penetrating both the causes and effects of the rebellion, 
and their publication must have been a great advantage to the cause abroad in our hour of trial. It is 
remarkable how often and how strikingly tlie judgments and predicti(5ns have been verified." 

From a Lady near Boston : — " I find the letters far more interesting tlian any novel, and am 
reading them with the highest satisfaction." 

From E. V. Haughwout, Esq., New York, who took fifty copies : — '' Your book has been very 
highly spoken of, and I am satisfied that it contains more valuable informatiiui on the war, as a book 
for future reference, than anything else tliat has been published." 

From Henry Goddard, Esij., Portland, Maine, "June 29th, 1S70. — My cousin has distinguished 
himself as an energetic, persevering, and fearless defender of a just cause, in the midst of discourage- 
ments, with nothing that I can perceive to strengthen and stimulate him but the consciousness that 
he was discharging a duty, I consider tlie letters will be better appreciated, almost indefinitely, as time 
advances, and that in writing and publishing them he has done honor to the family name." 

From Captain Charles Savage, Harvard, Massa' "August 1st, 1871. — Any son of the soil of 
Ametica must be excited, gratified, and even elated, in the perusal of these immensely able and 
courageous letters. I should be glad to join in having tliem stereotyped, and a million cheap copies 
circulated. I have Mr. Bright'.? speeches in a volume which I liaudle almost daily, and for which I 
am and ever shall be grateful. He may well .say that these letters "strengthened his faitli." I believe 
that had they been publislied anonymously, and the secret preserved as well as tliat of the authorship 
of Junius' letters, they would have commanded at the time, even more attention, than those letters did, 
at least in this country." 



Prom Lewis Tappan, Esq., Brooklyn, N.Y. " October 31st, 1871. — I have received your book, and 
have read enough of it to kuow that your writings were very valuable, and that you deserve the thanks 
of all your countrymen. My brotlier 88 yeai-s of age, is devouring it, lie says it is excellent." 

Extract from tlie Manchester " EnpUsh American" September 22ud, 1871. 

" We have now lying before us a volume of 584 pages, entitled " Letters on the American Rebellion, 
by S. A. Goddard,"* the most of which we have read and with the greatest interest. 

Mil. Goddard was one of the very few Americans in England wlio took in baud the defence of the 
North in the great struggle which resulted in the abolition of slavery, and this volume shows that he 
is entitled to rank foremost among all non-official .supporters of the cause. 

Such a persistent advocacy of a cause as was manifested by him, under difficulties, vvhich no one 
can appreciate who has not resided abroad and witnessed the tone of feeling tliat prevailed, is wortliy 
I if all prai.se, and wcjuld command the admiration of friends as well as foes. 

Mr. Goddard boldly repelled tlie attacks of such men as Sir Bulwer Lytton, Lord Bbouoham, 
Dr. Gothrie, and Mr. Gladstone, and he has the satisfaction of seeing his predictions fulfilled 
with marvellous completeness. 

But is it not surprising tliat this work sliould be left to a comparatively unknown man in a provincial 
town ? This noble volume forces us to enquire why it was not the leading merchant of London, of that 
day, who did this work ? We claim for Mr. Peabody everytliing tliat is his due, but we must ask how is it 
that tlie man who proved true, when Mr. Peabody faile 1, the man wlio " trod tlie wine press alone," 
and laboured zealously for his country, while Mr. Peabody sat in his counting-house grumbling to all 
comers of the policy of Abraham Lincoln, goes unrewarded ? How is it tliat the London merchant 
with his millions receives all the honor, while the Birmingham merchant who has done a work equally 
noble and quite as useful goes unrewarded even by public approval of his services. We do not mean to 
say that Mr. Goddard's letters have attracted no attention, for he has received many most_ flattering 
testimonials, but we do say that he has not received from his countrymen, so for as we can judge, any 
adequate recognition. 

Mr. Goddard had seen from early life that slavery was an institution as inconsistent with the 
principles of free government, as it is with the dictates of justice and humanity, and when the question 
was submitted to the arbitration of the sword, he was ready from long experience to do battle with 
the hostile feeling which gained such ascendancy in England. He pursued his course energetically and" 
fearlessly, notwithstanding the overwhelming opposition against him, and he triumphed. We have in 
this volume evidence that Mr. Goddard rendered the English and American people a greater service 
than any rendered by George Peabody. The Congress of the United States owe it to them.selves to 
grant Mr. Goddard a testimonial, which shall give the patriot who served his country, at least equal 
honor with him who deserted her in the hour of need." 

Extract of a letter from a prominent clergyman of the Church of England, Birmingham, who was 
cognizant of all the circumstances. " November 16th, 1871. — I have read the remarks on your book in 
the " English American" with the greatest satisfaction. If, as I believe, there is more power in the pen 
than in the sword, then I maintain that in the acknowledged victory achieved by you, against the most 
formidable odds, greater reward and honor was due to you than was due to the General, but as I 
remarked at the time, history would not fail to note and applaud, your enlightened, patriotic, and anti- 
slavery exertions. You have not only benefitted America, but the whole civilized world, and that volume 
of letters will be more lasting than a monument of marble, recording as it does your labor and sacrifices 
in the cause of humanity and brotherhood." 

. *BiRMiNGHAJi : Osborne. Boston : Noyes, Holmes, a3d Co. 



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